Ttorneys



T JI. F. REGAN. v Process for Maki'nglll'uminating Gas.

m. 228,392. Patented June 1,1 30.

WITNESSES: ILNVENTUR 1,.

TTORNEYS;

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UNire STATES PATENT Fries.

THOMAS J. F. REGAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK S. BENSON, OF SAME PLACE.

PROCESS FOR MAKING ILLUMINATING-GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,392, dated June 1, 1880.

Application filed January 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. F. REGAN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Process for Making Illuminating-Gas,

of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention consists, essentially, in placing in a closed receiver a quantity of caustic lime and pouring upon it as much naphtha or other light hydrocarbon as it will absorb, and then drawing from the receiver by suitable means the gas arising from the saturated lime and forcing it into a gasometer. The lime absorbs a small quantity of water from the hydrocarbon, and also a small quantity of condensed petroleum or petroleum-oil. The gas drawn off by the exhauster is permanent, and will remain uncondensed in the gasometcr. This gas answers every requirement for illuminat- 2o ing and heating purposes, and may be produced at much less expense than ordinary coal-gas.

Referring to the drawing, which is a sectional View of the apparatns, A is an air-tight receiver containing a quantity of caustic lime, B, which is saturated with one of the lighter distil lates from petroleum, preferably naphtha. A pipe, O, connects the receiver A with an ordinary gas-exhauster, D, which draws the gas from the receiver and delivers it to a gasometer for use.

The action resulting from the contact of the hydrocarbon with the caustic lime is as follows: The aqueous particles in the hydrocarbon form a union with the quicklime and slake it, while the heat which is then evolved causes the oil to vaporize or assume the gaseous form.

By my improved process I dispense with the usual expensive plant of gas-works, and 40 by means of a simple receiver, a gas-exhauster, and a gasometer manufacture and store for use rich illuminating-gas, capable of giving a pure white light of great intensity, and superior to gas produced from coal. 4 5

I am aware that a small quantity of unslaked lime has been deposited on the bottom of a gas-generating retort for the purpose of preventing the incrustation which arises from the use of coal-oil; also, that caustic lime has been used in a carburetor for purifying and absorbing the moisture from the carbureted air.

WVhat I claim as new is The process herein described of making il- 5 5 luininating-gas, which consists in subjecting naphtha or other suitable hydrocarbon to direct contact with caustic lime within a closed vessel or retort and drawing off the gas generated by an exhauster, substantially as speci- 6o fied.

THOMAS J. F. REGAN.

Vitnesses O. SEDeWIoK, WM. YERANCE. 

